Plant Image Collection

setSC-Heliamphora-6

Main Information

Title

<em>Heliamphora</em>

Author

Sherwin Carlquist Santa Barbara California USA

Keywords

Heliamphora

Description

Heliamphora

The seeds of Heliamphora, seen much magnified here, have wings on them. This suggests that they are dispersed by wind. The wings probably permit the seeds to be picked up by gusts of wind, once they have fallen to the ground. However, wings of this sort aren't efficient at dispersal for long distances in wind--a few seeds would be carried long distances in major storms, but in most weather conditions, many seeds would fall near the parent plant. This may be a good dispersal strategy, because the tepuis are like relatively small islands, so most of the habitats where Heliamphora could grow are very close to the existing plants. Heliamphora does not grow in the lowland areas surrounding the tepuis--the climate and other conditions are just too different from the temperature and moisture on the top of these tableland mountains.

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